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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Salon Coqs d'Or

I read somewhere that some tasting salons can be just a ton of foie gras, giant fromage, saucissons plus wine, so I was a little unsure yesterday about attending Le Salon des Coqs D'Or..

This was definitely the very upper crust of French producteurs starting with the much-prized breads from famed Jean-Luc Poujauran, no longer available to the public and only served at Paris' best bistros

I did a mini faint when I saw the blue label on a brown paper bag...

I got to chat with Poujauran and asked him if he would be at any other tasting salons since his bread is near impossible to find or buy.

"L'annee prochain", he responded (next year here).

Oh...

Another exciting find was the Maison Conquet. Le Salon des Coqs D'Or is made up of a very select group of carefully chosen producteurs from all over France - la crème de la crème in their specialties.

At restaurant Les Climats, I noted chef Julien Bosous was from Aveyron (a department in the north-east Pyranees). Plus we were served saucisson from Maison Conquet from Aveyron..

When I saw the same mark at the salon I was ready to dive in.

I'd bought some hazelnut sausage at another salon and found neither hazelnuts nor much flavor. Mostly salt in fact. I asked Geraldine of PPP if they carried flavored sausages since the idea of fig or chevre is appealing to a recently turned vegetarian.

Geraldine responded, "We only have pur porc", with a bit of a sniff.

Oh...

But now I get it. There's nothing extra in "pur porc" like tails or toes (ugh). If you buy from a highly regarded house like PPP or Maison Conquet you're getting le vrais chose. No mucking about, plus you can put on your own table what Les Climats serves. I got a rosette and a Roquefort saussicon at the salon. Miam miam. End of story.

I'd heard raves from Louise that his tartinerswere the best. Just my luck they were not taking carte bleu. Only checks and euros. It's probably a good thing I didn't get this...and devour it on the way home...probably.

Everything in France seems to be a "limited edition". There's a BUY-BY-DATE instead of a sell-by-date. Get it while you can or it's too late. This is not justPierre Herme's Ispahan collections but includes honey! Who knew?

Always divine walnuts in every form to taste and buy.

I love the French graphics and packaging.

Speaking of packages, these pretty Burgundian snails were calling me.

Not the world's prettiest packaging but certainly the most highly desirable and both from traiteurFamille Girardeau.

Dear Carol, excuse my confusion but do you say above that you are a 'recently turned vegetarian'? which would be slightly at odds with the devouring of oysters, pork sausages and snails......! If it is wishful thinking only, i quite understand the near impossibility of resisting these delightful animal products a la francaise!!

Paris Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.